The UK is one of the trickiest destinations for cargo dogs — the quarantine requirement alone reshapes your entire timeline. Koda has flown cargo 14 times, but the UK's paperwork chain is unforgiving: microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate, import permit, then quarantine on arrival. Get one step out of sequence and you are not getting through. This is the breakdown you need before you book.
Bringing a pet to United Kingdom requires three documents in the right order: a microchip, a rabies vaccine within the destination's wait window, and a government-endorsed health certificate. The table below lays out exactly what's required, what's not, and where each rule comes from.
How United Kingdom handles your pet Under the Windsor Framework, international (non-GB) pets entering Northern Ireland follow EU import rules: microchip before rabies vaccine, rabies vaccination with 21-day wait, AHC valid 10 days for entry (6 months onward EU travel), and dogs require tapeworm treatment 24-120 hours before arrival. Pets from unlisted countries also need a successful rabies titer blood test taken at least 30 days post-vaccination, then a 3-month waiting period. Entry must be via a designated Travellers' Point of Entry (Belfast/Larne ports, Belfast Intl/City/Derry airports), and air arrivals must notify DAERA at least 10 days in advance. Unlike GB→NI domestic (PTD scheme), this pathway carries the full EU pet import regime.
Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Tap the
🐕 Dog 🐈 Cat
In the hold / cargo ✓ Accepted
Cabin policy Minimum age 21 weeks …before travelling - some rabies vaccinations take longer to work than others. You will have to wait at least 21 full days after the first rabies vaccination (or the last of the first course of rabies vaccinations) is… verified 2026-07-20 Advance booking notice 24 hours Your dog must be treated no less than 24 hours before (and no more than 5 days before) you arrive in Great Britain. verified 2026-07-20 Advance booking required ✓ YesCheck if you need to follow extra rules You must follow extra rules (known as Balai rules) if any of the following apply: you’re going to sell, rehome or transfer the ownership of the pet your pet is View a printable… verified 2026-06-23 Banned destinations ✗ YesEU and EFTA countries (any country listed): Annex II to Regulation ( EU ) 577/2013 the list of approved ‘Equidae’ trading partners – EU the list of approved ‘Fresh meat of ungulates’ trading partners – EU Non- EU… verified 2026-07-16 Hold & cargo policy Hold: Pets accepted ✓ AcceptedBringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain: What you need to do - GOV.UK Cookies on GOV.UK We use some essential cookies to make this website work. We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you… verified 2026-07-20 Hold: Minimum age 12 weeks When to get the rabies vaccinations Your vet needs proof that your pet’s at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating them. verified 2026-07-20 Cargo: Pets accepted ✓ Acceptedies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time. You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your… verified 2026-07-20 Cargo: Advance booking required ✓ Yesfrom England, Scotland and Wales If you’re in England, Scotland or Wales, you must apply for this export health certificate (EHC) using the online service. verified 2026-07-20 Cargo: Heat embargo 1°C number During the non-commercial movement, the above animals will remain under the responsibility of (1)either [the owner]; (1)or [the natural person who has authorisation in writing 12 come from, or are verified 2026-07-16 Cargo: Crate must have/be live-animal label Checks on live animal and germinal products from non-EU countries Imports of live animals and germinal products from non-EU countries must be checked at a BCP in Great Britain. verified 2026-07-16 Health & documents Health certificate required ✓ YesBringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain: Great Britain pet health certificate - GOV.UK Cookies on GOV.UK We use some essential cookies to make this website work. We’d like to set additional cookies to… verified 2026-07-15 Health certificate validity 10 days (b) This certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the official veterinarian until the date of the documentary and identity ch… verified 2026-07-16 Microchip · Required ✓ YesThey must be microchipped before they get their rabies vaccination. verified 2026-07-20 Microchip · Standard ISO 11784/11785 Reading the microchip If you travel by air, train or ferry on approved routes, staff will check your microchip if it meets International Organization for Standardization ( ISO ) standards ISO 11784 and ISO 11785. verified 2026-07-20 Microchip · Tattoo accepted ✓ Yestion test referred to in point II.3,1. (9) In conjunction with footnote (6), the marking of the animals concerned by the implantation of a transponder or by a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 must be… verified 2026-07-15 Microchip · Must be done before vaccination ✓ YesThey must be microchipped before they get their rabies vaccination verified 2026-07-15 Quarantine · Type none_if_compliant Your pet may be put into quarantine for up to 4 months if you do not follow these rules - or refused entry if you travelled by sea. verified 2026-07-20 Quarantine · Required ✓ YesIf these conditions cannot be met the animals will require a licence and must be quarantined. verified 2026-07-16 Quarantine · Duration 4 days Your pet may be put into quarantine for up to 4 months if you do not follow these rules - or refused entry if you travelled by sea. verified 2026-07-20 Quarantine · Pre-approval required ✓ YesTRANSPORTATION, MASTER’S CERTIFICATE AND POST-IMPORT QUARANTINE The transporting vessel must travel direct from the United Kingdom to the verified 2026-07-20 Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Required ✓ YesThe results of the blood test must show that the vaccination was successful (rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml). verified 2026-07-20 Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Minimum level iu ml 0.5 The results of the blood test must show that the vaccination was successful (rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml). verified 2026-07-20 Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Approved laboratory required ✓ YesA certified copy of the official report from the approved laboratory on the result of the rabies antibody test shall be attached to the certificate. verified 2026-07-16 Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Waiting period after test days 3 days You must wait 3 months from the date the blood sample was taken before you travel. verified 2026-07-20 Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Test must follow vaccination days 30 days …must be carried out on a sample collected by a veterinarian authorised by the competent authority, at least 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination within a current valid vaccinat verified 2026-07-16 Import permit · Required ✓ YesAccept additional cookies Reject additional cookies View cookies Hide cookie message Skip to main content Bringing pets to Great Britain Skip contents If you’re travelling from outside the EU You must have an import… verified 2026-07-15 Health certificate · Issuer official_vet The certificate must be signed, stamped and dated by an official veterinarian ( OV ) who has authority from their government to issue it. verified 2026-07-15 Health certificate · Required ✓ YesYou’ll need a birds health certificate that’s been issued in the country you’re travelling from. verified 2026-07-17 Health certificate · Endorsed by competent authority They must send you the official, verifiable PDF certificate once it has been signed by the competent authority. verified 2026-07-16 Health certificate · Validity days 10 days Your pet must enter Great Britain within 10 days of the pet health certificate being issued. verified 2026-07-15 Health certificate · Original required ✓ YesIf the exporter does not use a system approved to produce verifiable PDF certificates, the competent authority must send the original paper GB health certificate with the consignment and send you an electronic copy to… verified 2026-07-16 Health certificate · Government endorsed ✓ Yesoriginal of the certificate shall be issued by an official veterinarian of the country of dispatch or by an authorised veterinarian and subsequently endorsed by the competent authority of the country of dispatch. verified 2026-07-15 Microchip required · Microchip required ✓ YesThey must be microchipped before they get their rabies vaccination. verified 2026-06-19 Rabies vaccination · Required ✓ YesView a printable version of the whole guide This page is Part of Bring your pet to Great Britain: step by step Step 1 : Check if you can bring your pet Check if you can bring your pet Find out how you're allowed to… verified 2026-07-17 Rabies vaccination · Booster required ✓ Yesapproved routes for people travelling with guide or assistance dogs . Microchip your pet . They must be microchipped before they get their rabies vaccination. Vaccinate your pet against rabies . How long you must wait… verified 2026-07-20 Rabies vaccination · Approved vaccines list inactivated vaccine What vaccinations your pet needs The rabies vaccine must be an inactivated vaccine or recombinant vaccine that’s approved in the country of use. verified 2026-07-25 Rabies vaccination · Booster interval 3 months t II.3.1: − must be carried out on a sample collected by a veterinarian authorised by the competent authority, at… verified 2026-07-15 Rabies vaccination · Waiting period after vaccination 21 days …wait before travelling to Great Britain depends on the type of rabies vaccine used. This will be at least 21 full days after the first vaccination (or the last of the first course of vaccinations). Get a pet travel… verified 2026-07-20 Rabies vaccination · Max vaccine age at travel 3 months in point II.3.1: − must be carried out on a sample collected by a veterinarian authorised by the competent authority, at… verified 2026-07-15 Rabies vaccination · Min age at vaccination 12 weeks When to get the rabies vaccinations Your vet needs proof that your pet’s at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating them. verified 2026-07-20 Tapeworm treatment · Drug praziquantel The treatment must both: be approved for use in the country it’s being given in contain praziquantel or an equivalent proven to be effective against the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm Information your… verified 2026-07-20 Tapeworm treatment · Required ✓ Yesrt or health certificate: the name and manufacturer of the product the date and time they treated your dog their stamp and signature When to give the tapeworm treatment The treatment must be given: no less than 24 hours… verified 2026-07-20 Tapeworm treatment · Vet documented ✓ Yeschinococcus multilocularis (10).] Transponder or tattoo number of the dog Anti-echinococcus treatment Administering veterinarian Name and manufacturer of the product Date [dd/mm verified 2026-07-16 Tapeworm treatment · Window max hours before arrival 120 …multilocularis (tapeworm) treatment with an approved product not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours prior to arrival in GB Re verified 2026-07-16 Tapeworm treatment · Window min hours before arrival 24 …you have a dog, you may need a vet to give them tapeworm treatment . Your dog must be treated no less than 24 hours before (and no more than 5 days before) you arrive in Great Britain. You also need to fill in a… verified 2026-07-20 Health certificate required · Health certificate required ✓ YesCheck your travel company’s rules Before you book your travel, check if the company you’re travelling with: will accept your pet for travel - and how many they’ll accept if you have more than one needs any proof that… verified 2026-06-19 Internal parasite treatment · Drug accepted praziquantel ands and Isle of Man; − consist of an approved medicinal product which contains the appropriate dose of praziquantel or pharmacologically active substances, which alone or in combination, have been proven to reduce the burden… verified 2026-07-16 Rabies vaccination required · Rabies vaccination required ✓ YesThey must be microchipped before they get their rabies vaccination. View a printable version of the whole guide This page is Part of Bring your pet to Great Britain: step by step Step 1 : Check if y verified 2026-06-19 Health certificate valid within days · Health certificate valid within days 10 days Your pet must enter Great Britain within 10 days of the pet health certificate being issued. verified 2026-07-15 Other rules Pets accepted ✓ Accepteditain: step by step Step 1 : Check if you can bring your pet You are currently viewing: Check if you can bring your pet Find out how you're allowed to travel to Great Britain Check different rules for guide and… verified 2026-07-20 Pet passport required ✓ YesCheck your travel company’s rules Before you book your travel, check if the company you’re travelling with: will accept your pet for travel - and how many they’ll accept if you have more than one needs any proof that… verified 2026-06-19 Service & assistance animals Recognized ✓ Yesw you're allowed to travel to Great Britain Check different rules for guide and assistance dogs Step 2 : Get your pet microchipped Check the rules for microchips Step 3 : Get verified 2026-07-15 Documentation required ✓ Yesare more approved routes for people travelling with guide or assistance dogs . Microchip your pet . They must be microchipped before they get their rabies vaccination. Vaccinate your pet against rabies . How long you… verified 2026-07-20 In the hold / cargo ✓ Accepted
Cabin policy Minimum age 12 weeks the animals described in Box I.12 were at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination against rabies and at least 21 days have elapse 12… verified 2026-07-16 Advance booking notice 24 hours Your dog must be treated no less than 24 hours before (and no more than 5 days before) you arrive in Great Britain. verified 2026-07-20 Hold & cargo policy Hold: Pets accepted ✓ AcceptedBringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain: What you need to do - GOV.UK Cookies on GOV.UK We use some essential cookies to make this website work. We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you… verified 2026-07-20 Hold: Advance booking notice 24 hours Your dog must be treated no less than 24 hours before (and no more than 5 days before) you arrive in Great Britain. verified 2026-07-20 Cargo: Pets accepted ✓ Acceptedif you have more than one needs any proof that your pet is fit and healthy to travel, for example a letter from a vet or certain information in your pet passport or health certificate When pets have to travel as cargo… verified 2026-07-14 Cargo: Minimum age 21 weeks …before travelling - some rabies vaccinations take longer to work than others. You will have to wait at least 21 full days after the first rabies vaccination (or the last of the first course of rabies vaccinations) is… verified 2026-07-20 Cargo: Advance booking notice 24 hours Your dog must be treated no less than 24 hours before (and no more than 5 days before) you arrive in Great Britain. verified 2026-07-20 Cargo: Crate must have/be live-animal label Scotland and Wales) that are not covered by other rules that apply to importing live animals and germinal products from: EU countries non-EU countries Imports of live animals and germinal products under Balai rules from… verified 2026-07-16 Health & documents Health certificate required ✓ YesBringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain: Great Britain pet health certificate - GOV.UK Cookies on GOV.UK We use some essential cookies to make this website w verified 2026-07-15 Government endorsed cert required ✓ YesThe certificate must be signed, stamped and dated by an official veterinarian ( OV ) who has authority from their government to issue it. verified 2026-07-15 Import permit copy required ✓ YesRabbits and rodents You’ll also need to get a rabies import licence for the animal. verified 2026-07-15 Microchip · Required ✓ YesThey must be microchipped before they get their rabies vaccination. verified 2026-07-15 Microchip · Standard ISO 11784 Reading the microchip If you travel by air, train or ferry on approved routes, staff will check your microchip if it meets International Organization for Standardization ( ISO ) standards ISO 11784 and ISO 11785. verified 2026-07-20 Microchip · Tattoo accepted ✓ Yestion test referred to in point II.3,1. (9) In conjunction with footnote (6), the marking of the animals concerned by the implantation of a transponder or by a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 must be… verified 2026-07-15 Microchip · Must be done before vaccination ✓ YesThey must be microchipped before they get their rabies vaccination verified 2026-07-15 Quarantine · Type none_if_compliant Your pet may be put into quarantine for up to 4 months if you do not follow these rules - or refused entry if you travelled by sea. verified 2026-07-20 Quarantine · Required ✓ YesIf these conditions cannot be met the animals will require a licence and must be quarantined. verified 2026-07-16 Quarantine · Duration 14 days A minimum period of 14 days house quarantine may be required on arrival Applications stating the number of animals, individual… verified 2026-07-24 Quarantine · Pre-approval required ✓ YesTRANSPORTATION, MASTER’S CERTIFICATE AND POST-IMPORT QUARANTINE The transporting vessel must travel direct from the United Kingdom to the verified 2026-07-20 Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Required ✓ Yes(b)(ii) A ‘different GB listing’ refers to listed in a document relating to ‘fresh meat of ungulates’ published on GOV.UK, in accordance with Regulation No 206/2010(†) or listed without time limit in a document relating… verified 2026-07-16 Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Minimum level iu ml 0.5 The results of the blood test must show that the vaccination was successful (rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml). verified 2026-07-20 Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Approved laboratory required ✓ Yesve been vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days after the primary course of vaccination within a current valid vaccination series (or the last of the primary course of vaccinations) a blood sample must be drawn and… verified 2026-07-16 Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Test must follow vaccination days 30 days How to get your pet a rabies blood test Your pet must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. verified 2026-07-20 Import permit · Required ✓ YesAccept additional cookies Reject additional cookies View cookies Hide cookie message Skip to main content Bringing pets to Great Britain Skip contents If you’re travelling from outside the EU You must have an import… verified 2026-07-15 Health certificate · Issuer official_vet The certificate must be signed, stamped and dated by an official veterinarian ( OV ) who has authority from their government to issue it. verified 2026-07-15 Health certificate · Required ✓ YesYour pet must enter Great Britain within 10 days of the pet health certificate being issued. verified 2026-07-15 Health certificate · Endorsed by competent authority original of the certificate shall be issued by an official veterinarian of the country of dispatch or by an authorised veterinarian and subsequently endorsed by the competent authority of the country of dispatch. verified 2026-07-15 Health certificate · Validity days 10 days Your pet must enter Great Britain within 10 days of the pet health certificate being issued. verified 2026-07-15 Health certificate · Original required ✓ YesIf the exporter does not use a system approved to produce verifiable PDF certificates, the competent authority must send the original paper GB health certificate with the consignment and send you an electronic copy to… verified 2026-07-16 Health certificate · Government endorsed ✓ Yesoriginal of the certificate shall be issued by an official veterinarian of the country of dispatch or by an authorised veterinarian and subsequently endorsed by the competent authority of the country of dispatch. verified 2026-07-15 Rabies vaccination · Required ✓ YesHow to get your pet a rabies blood test Your pet must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. verified 2026-07-20 Rabies vaccination · Booster required ✓ Yesquest by the competent authorities responsible for the checks referred to in point (b) of the Notes. (4) Any revaccination must be considered a primary vaccination if it was not carried out within the period of validity… verified 2026-07-15 Rabies vaccination · Approved vaccines list recombinant What vaccinations your pet needs The rabies vaccine must be an inactivated vaccine or recombinant vaccine that’s approved in the country of use What vaccinations your pet needs The rabies vaccine must be an inactivated… verified 2026-06-24 Rabies vaccination · Waiting period after vaccination 21 days …that the animals were at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination against rabies and at least 21 days have elapsed since the completion of the primary anti-rabies vaccination carried out in accordance with… verified 2026-07-16 Rabies vaccination · Max vaccine age at travel 3 months at least 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination within a current valid vaccination series and 3 months before the date of import; verified 2026-07-15 Rabies vaccination · Min age at vaccination 12 weeks the animals were at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination against rabies and at least 21 verified 2026-07-16 Tapeworm treatment · Required ✗ NoPet dogs (not pet cats or pet ferrets) must be treated against the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis prior to entering: any EU country listed in Annex XIX to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/620,… verified 2026-07-15
Timing chain
Day -90 microchip implant · Day -21 rabies vaccine deadline · Day -10 health certificate issued · Day 0 arrive at customs
Breed restrictions
Banned breeds: Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, XL Bully verified 2026-07-20
The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination is administered — not after, not the same day. If the vaccination date predates the microchip scan, UK Border Force treats the rabies vaccination as invalid and the entire timeline resets. Microchip the dog first, verify the chip reads correctly at the vet, then schedule the rabies shot. Sequence is everything.
The 4-day quarantine applies when all paperwork clears at the border. Arrive missing a document — or travel by sea without compliance — and the UK can hold a dog for up to 4 months, or refuse entry outright. Sea routes carry a stricter enforcement posture than air. Know which route your cargo travels, not just which airport you depart from.
Frequently asked
Does my pet need a microchip for United Kingdom? Yes. United Kingdom requires an ISO-standard microchip, and it must be fitted before the rabies vaccination to be valid. How long before travel must the rabies vaccine be given for United Kingdom? The rabies vaccine must take effect at least 21 days before entry, and can be given from 12 weeks of age. Travelling before that window makes the vaccination invalid at the border. What if my flight is delayed past my health certificate validity? If the certificate window expires before you board, you'll need a re-issue. Build a 1-2 day buffer between the cert date and departure to absorb minor delays. What happens if I forget a document? At the destination airport: at best, an extended inspection while you produce backup; at worst, the pet is held in quarantine or returned to origin at your cost. Bring printed copies.
Four days is the quarantine floor — and only when every document clears at the border. Non-compliance extends that hold to up to 4 months in a government-approved facility, or results in outright refusal at sea. Budget the trip around the 4-day minimum as the best-case scenario. A 4-month hold is a trip-ending outcome with costs that dwarf any cargo flight fee.
The UK demands precision. Every step in the chain — microchip, vaccination, health certificate, import permit — has to be sequenced correctly or the entry falls apart. For a big cargo dog, the paperwork lead time alone runs months, not weeks. Use Pawgo to build a personalized plan with the exact sequence and timelines for your departure country, travel dates, and dog's size. Get the plan right before you book.
Glossary
ISO chip ISO 11784/11785 — the universal microchip standard. FAVN Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization — a rabies serology test required by rabies-free destinations. Brachycephalic Snub-nosed breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Himalayans) with restricted airline acceptance due to heat-stress risk. AVIH Animal Vehicle In Hold — IATA's term for cargo pet shipment, with fees that vary by carrier and route.
